Pennsylvania Act 2016-1 — PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949 - KEYSTONE EXAMS

Act text

Session of 2016

No. 2016-1

SB 880

AN ACT

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, further providing for Keystone Exams.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 121 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added June 30, 2012 (P.L.684, No.82), is amended to read:

Section 121. Keystone Exams.-- (a) Subject to annual appropriation, not later than the 2020-2021 school year, the Department of Education shall develop and implement Keystone Exams in the following subjects: algebra I, literature, biology, English composition, algebra II, geometry, United States history, chemistry, civics and government and world history. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations, subject to the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the "Regulatory Review Act," necessary to implement this section.

(b) The following shall apply:

(1) Notwithstanding section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), 22 Pa. Code § 4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements), 4.51 (relating to State assessment system) or 4.51c (relating to project-based assessment) or any statute or regulation to the contrary, the use of the Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement or as a benchmark for the need for participation in a project-based assessment shall be delayed until the 2018-2019 school year.

(2) The Department of Education shall investigate and develop alternatives in addition to the use of the Keystone Exams as a requirement for graduation and shall, within six (6) months of the effective date of this paragraph, issue a report of the Department of Education's findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the chairman and minority chairman of the Education Committee of the Senate and the chairman and minority chairman of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives. The report shall, at a minimum, contain a detailed plan and timeline within which the Department of Education shall accomplish all of the following:

(i) Implement alternative methods for students to demonstrate proficiency for graduation in addition to the Keystone Exams, the project-based assessments and other alternative assessments provided for in 22 Pa. Code § 4.24.

(ii) Improve and expedite the evaluation of project-based assessments.

(iii) Ensure that no student is prohibited from participation in vocational-technical education or elective courses or programs as a result of supplemental instruction required in 22 Pa. Code §§ 4.24(k) and 4.51b(f) (relating to Keystone Exams).

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED--The 3rd day of February, A.D. 2016.

TOM WOLF